Dylan Miller Intern Follow Up
What was one thing in the engineering field you learned at York College that benefited you the most while at McCarthy Engineering?
One thing that benefited me the most while interning at McCarthy Engineering was my prior course work in stormwater design. During my studies at York College of Pennsylvania, I took a lot of classes on this topic so I had a lot of knowledge coming into my internship. I spent the majority of my internship working on stormwater design projects so my course work truly paid off!
What was one thing you learned in the engineering field at McCarthy Engineering that you did not learn at York College?
Interning for McCarthy Engineering has given me a lot of opportunities to practice and familiarize myself with AutoCAD. Though I was introduced to AutoCAD in my coursework, I did not have much opportunity to really get familiar with the program. Through my internship, I was given many opportunities to utilize different features and become comfortable using this program.
Who was your mentor at McCarthy Engineering?
My mentor was the Wyomissing division manager, Chris Falencki. He was very helpful when it came to providing me guidance and insight that can only come with experience. This really helped me better understand the projects I was working on and how to move forward.
Were your expectations met?
Yes, my expectations were definitely met. I knew I would gain a more in depth understanding on engineering topics that I did not get from my college coursework. I feel more confident in my skills and am grateful to have gained so much knowledge from such an experienced team.
What was your favorite project to work on?
By far my favorite project was when I took lead on the stormwater design for the redevelopment of a residential lot in the city of Reading. The project involved the demolition of a single family home and the construction of a six unit apartment building. My job was to design the storm facilities to control the increased amount of runoff from the new development. I really enjoyed this project since I have always been drawn to the stormwater design aspect of engineering.
What is next?
I graduate from York College of Pennsylvania on May 14th after finishing my last internship at McCarthy Engineering. Once I graduate, I plan to take a short break from my engineering career and pursue some other passions of mine while I am young and free of obligations. I plan to do some traveling this summer and explore other parts of the country. I am also hoping to find a job at a ski resort this winter. Snowboarding has always been a passion of mine, and I would love to spend a whole season hitting the slopes as much as possible!
Michael Perkins Intern Follow Up
What was one thing in the engineering field you learned at York College that benefited you the most while at McCarthy Engineering?
It is hard to narrow down to just one because I would say all the engineering courses I have taken so far have helped me. Two areas of knowledge that I definitely used while interning at McCarthy Engineering were construction and site engineering. My experience with these topics helped me navigate my way through unpredicted challenges. My course work really guided me while I was working on new projects.
What was one thing you learned in the engineering field at McCarthy Engineering that you did not learn at York College?
COVID was a major setback when it came to gaining hands on experience at school. COVID sent us home so I missed the experience I would have gotten through course work and my professors. Interning has given me all the hands on experience I needed, especially in surveying.
Who was your mentor at McCarthy Engineering?
My mentor while interning was the Wyomissing division manager, Chris Falencki. He was always there to guide me on projects. Chris made sure to give me clear instructions on what he wanted from me. He took the time to explain why we were doing the tasks we were doing. It was easy to learn from Chris due to his thorough explanations on the processes and procedures we must take in engineering.
Were your expectations met?
I got more than I expected from this internship. My favorite part was the freedom I had to work between locations. I got the opportunity to work at the McCarthy Engineering Pottstown office when I had completed my work at the Wyomissing office. At the Pottstown location, I gained invaluable experience working on mechanical and electrical engineering projects. I really enjoyed these aspects but I still prefer the civil engineering side of things, which is what I worked on when at the Wyomissing location. I am very fortunate that McCarthy Engineering offered me the chance to work in various engineering fields. As I can now confidently know civil engineering is where I want to pursue a career.
What was your favorite project to work on?
Reflecting on my internship, I can say my favorite projects were designing parking lots in Reading. The Reading Parking Authority would give us a location and it was my job to design the new layout for the lot. Whether it was an abandoned parking lot or an empty space between houses, it was fun to design the future of a location.
What is next?
This Summer, I will return to York College of Pennsylvania to take Summer classes in transportation engineering and hydrology. Then it’ll be time for Fall semester where I will complete my third and final internship. After my final internship, I have two more semesters until graduation. After graduation, I hope to find employment with an engineering firm where I can work in either surveying or designing on the East Coast or in the mid-West.
About McCarthy Engineering Associates, Inc.
For 20 years, McCarthy Engineering Associates, Inc. has provided the public and private sectors of Berks and the surrounding counties with full service engineering and consulting services such as: site, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, operational, feasibility, environmental, and fire protection. McCarthy Engineering has offices located in Wyomissing, PA and Pottstown, PA. For more information, visit https://www.mccarthy-engineering.com.
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